1. 12 th Annual Northern Plains Workshop, Bismarck, ND, 8-9 April 2008 Sounding Analysis and Research Tools: What is used at Rapid City? Matthew J. Bunkers NOAA/NWS, Rapid City, SD

2. Motivation Do you like this graph?Or this one? 2

3. Motivation Do you want to make charts like this? 3 http://www.crh.noaa.gov/unr/?n=pw

4. Outline Plot and analyze a hodograph Create a precipitable water chart Tell you where to get the tools 4

5. Hodograph 1.Get data – http://raob.fsl.noaa.gov; or radiosonde database on CD-ROMshttp://raob.fsl.noaa.gov 2.Run C program – hodo.c –Need UNIX/Linux 3.Plot in spreadsheet – Excel graph –Customize, analyze, print, save image 5

6. Hodograph – Get data 6 6/6/04: 70-110 nm NW of BIS Ord: 240 @ 30 kts RM: 269 @ 26 kts LM: 217 @ 47 kts

7. Hodograph – Get data 7 http://raob.fsl.noaa.gov/ Plus Radiosonde Database of North America CD-ROMs (1948  mid 1990s)

8. Hodograph – Get data 8

9. 9

10. Hodograph – C program 10

11. Hodograph – C program 11

12. Hodograph – Excel spreadsheet 12 Ord: 240 @ 30 kts RM: 269 @ 26 kts LM: 217 @ 47 kts

13. Precipitable water 1.Get data – http://raob.fsl.noaa.gov; or radiosonde database on CD-ROMshttp://raob.fsl.noaa.gov 2.Run C program – pw.c 3.Plot in spreadsheet – Excel graph –Customize, analyze, print, save image 13

14. Precipitable water – Get data 14 http://raob.fsl.noaa.gov/ Plus Radiosonde Database of North America CD-ROMs (1948  mid 1990s)

15. Precipitable water – Get data 15

16. Precipitable water – Get data 16 May have to concatenate several files; put 999 at end

17. Precipitable water – pw.c Compile this program just like hodo.c –See comments within program 17

18. Precipitable water – Excel spreadsheet 18

19. Where do I get this? http://www.crh.noaa.gov/unr/?n=scm convectM.c –Computes multiple sounding variables 19 Bulk1Bulk2Bulk3Bulk4Bulk5Bulk6Bulk7Bulk8SRH1SRH2SRH3YearMoDyHr 510152025.430.931.5 387611519981160 5.555 2.61.93.511.3-25-20 199812012 1.38.913.813.11219.715.917.2-17718919982230 12.513.12021.625.726.327.126.3203212262199822512 6.417.118.722.226.231.932.833.39018619819983250 10.415.121.825.223.824.925.225.917021726619983260 9.917.117.818.920.926.537.941.812318619719983270 7.911.815.424.21319.32519.6-104-89-305199841412 7.38.61.62.34.99.912.2 -355919984150 12.513.410.99.714.218.223.523.2-29-24-1419984180

20. Wrap-up These programs provide opportunity for nice graphics and climatological studies Garbage input soundings = garbage output variables I don’t provide “official” support New variables don’t get added quickly 20

21. Thanks for your attention! 21